The swimming zone at the Rasfannu beach area in Malé has been temporarily closed to the public after black oil contaminated the lagoon.

In a post on X last night, the Malé City Council confirmed the closure, stating that the measures were taken due to used engine oil leaking into the swimming area. The council has urged the public to refrain from swimming or entering the water until clean-up operations are fully completed.

This is not the first time the artificial beach has faced pollution issues; parts of the swimming area have previously been closed and treated for oil contamination on multiple occasions.

The incident comes just days after Rasfannu was officially reopened last Friday, following a closure this past April for extensive renovation work. The upgrading project was carried out under contracts awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and the Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).